WWE returns to Singapore with WWE LIVE SINGAPORE on Thursday June 27, 2019 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Our resident WWE superfan (Juan Pablo) got the chance to catch up with “The King of Strong Style”, legendary Japanese WWE superstar Shinsuke Nakamura, who was in town to take in the sights and promote the event.
Juan Pablo: Hi, it’s a real honor to meet you. Is this your first time in Singapore?
Shinsuke Nakamura: I was here back in 2015 for a show with New Japan Pro Wrestling. I love it here. I’m happy to be back.
JP: You are a legendary wrestler in Japan, even considered by some to be the greatest whoever stepped inside the squared circle. How was it going to a new company, in a new country?
SN: It was a tough time for me. I had to work really hard to move my way up. There’s so many great talents and it’s such a big company. I know some of the fans my have been a bit frustrated that I have to work my way up but I’ll do my best to make them proud. I just have to do what I have to do to work my way up.
My match with Seth Rollins at the Singapore Indoor Stadium June 27 for the Universal Championship is a great opportunity for me. I will do my best to give an amazing match.
JP: Was it difficult adjusting to wrestling in the U.S.A? Is the performance style very different than in Japan?
SN: Actually I’ve traveled the world wrestling, so it wasn’t hard for me to adjust. I’ve done shows in the US, Mexico, Brazil, and Russia. Everywhere you go there’s one thing that’s the same about performing – you need to connect with the fans. As long as you can connect with the fans you can create a great performance.
JP: Now you’re famous for your Strong Style. How did you develop it and what made you find it?
SN: You know the thing with Strong Style is that the guys in Japan are still thinking about it. When I was training, I was a student of the founder of NJPW Antonio Inoki. He always told me the key to wrestling, or to Strong Style, was to show your anger to the audience.
He would always say to me “show anger, show anger, show anger!”. And now I understand. What he meant was to show real emotion. Showing real emotion is an actual technique. That is Strong Style.
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JP: Would you have any advice for anyone trying to break into the industry?
SN: Yeah. The style of wrestling in Japan and the US are very different. In Japan, for the first few years you just work on your basics before you ever get into character. It’s all about knowing your foundation. After you’ve mastered your foundation and basic skills then you go to another country like Mexico to learn your character.
If you can master the basics of wrestling, you can wrestle anywhere in the world. If you only learn character stuff then it’s hard to translate that to other countries where they do things differently. The basics of wrestling are like the basics of martial arts. You have to learn to protect yourself as well as protect your opponent.
JP: So what’s next for you?
SN: Like I said it’s a tough time for me. I’m proving myself, but I’m looking forward to all the new opportunities. I liked tag-teaming with Rusev, but right now the goal is to walk away with the Universal Championship.
JP: One last question. We enjoy following your adventures in the U.S. on Instagram and have to ask, why do you like water towers so much?
SN: (Bursts out laughing) So everybody wants to know! One time after a match in Texas, I wanted to go back to the hotel. So I got a car and wanted to drive. I typed in the address into the GPS, started to drive, and it brought me to this humongous water tower. There was no hotel, just this giant water tower that looked like a rocket ship from the 80’s or 90’s.
In Asia they don’t have water towers like they do in the US. They only have them on top of some buildings. In the U.S. they are everywhere. I thought it was so cool and funny that I took a photo and posted it. That’s how it all started. Also I don’t have a lot of selfies to post, so I post pictures of the water towers now.
While in Singapore, Shinsuke took the opportunity to check out some of the sights as well… no water towers though, just a waterfall:
Check out Shinsuke Nakamura’s legendary Strong Style for yourself on June 27th at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. This is one hot show that you won’t want to miss.
Fans attending WWE LIVE SINGAPORE will be able to see their favorite WWE Superstars including Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor, Drew McIntyre, Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Elias, Bobby Lashley, Bayley, Natalya, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable and more.
StarHub is the official TV Partner of WWE Live Singapore, and viewers can watch Raw and SmackDown Live, live from the US (Tuesday and Wednesdays, 8am respectively), as well as Main Event, Vintage, Bottom Line and Afterburn on StarHub on Hub Sports 2 (Ch 202).
Tickets for WWE LIVE SINGAPORE are now on sale and are available at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Box Office, all SingPost outlets, The Star Performing Arts Centre Box Office, Scotts Square Concierge Desk, and online at www.sportshubtix.sg.